1974 Mini CLUBMAN

With only two previous owners, this Mini Clubman estate is a real slice of history. Bought new in 1974, it remained in the care of its original owner until 1996 when he sold it to a friend of his, who then kept it for the next twenty-one years; there can’t be many Minis on offer today with such a lovely back story.

Yet, even the most charming history doesn’t turn a bad car into a good one, so we’re delighted to be able to tell you that this is one of the nicest cars we’ve ever seen. While the paintwork shows a few shopping battle-scars, the interior is wonderfully original and in almost perfect condition. It also starts first time, runs, steers and stops exactly as it should AND has covered fewer than 26,000 miles from new.

Finished in Teal Blue with faux wood panels, the condition of the Mini Clubman Estate’s bodywork will polarize potential bidders. If you’re a fan of concours trailer queens you will almost certainly hate the fact that the paintwork is less than pristine; as you can see from the photographs it’s got a few minor parking dings, a fair number of stone chips, and the paint has even flaked off in places.

On the other hand, if you’re a sucker for originality then the fact that the paintwork is original, unmolested and displays a wonderful patina will be a huge draw. We’re firmly in the latter camp, if for no other reason than we think respraying a car like this would be an act of cultural insensitivity as you’d only be doing so for purely cosmetic reasons; the entire structure is rust-free thanks to having been garaged throughout its whole life.

And the underside is as honest as the bodywork and in genuinely time-warp condition being free of rot, rust and previous repairs. In fact, it even sports the original factory underseal…

Other than that, the only point of note is the glass in the driver’s door mirror, which has started to tarnish around the edges. However, this is a problem that only afflicts that one mirror as the passenger door isn’t fitted with one and still wears its original rubber blanking grommets.

If you’re impressed by the outside of the car, then prepare to be wowed by the interior, which is in amazingly good condition. The tan vinyl front seats are almost perfect and the rear seat looks brand new; in fact, it’s in such good condition that it wouldn’t surprise us to find out that no one has ever sat on it.

All of the instruments work as they should and while the steering wheel is showing gentle wear, the switches (both of them…) and controls are as crisp and neat as the day it left the showroom. Similarly, the door trims, window winders, door pulls and handles could be mistaken for new/old stock and even the pedal rubbers are barely worn.

The carpet has been protected by rubber mats, although the sun has faded it in places. This might lead you to assume that a replacement would be at the very top of the new owner’s shopping list. However, before you budget for a new carpet can we tell you a story? The vendor tells us that the first owner placed his shopping on the floor behind the passenger’s seat every week for twenty-two years straight, a habit that created an indentation in the carpet there; who could possibly replace a carpet with a story like that?

Nonetheless, as good as the rest of the interior is, the biggest surprise can be found in the boot where lifting the carpet reveals a pristine, concours-quality finish to the paintwork beneath; given the first owner’s habit of storing his shopping where he did, it’s clear the boot has seen little, if any, use over the years. Oh, and the jack has never been used either.

The 998cc engine starts first time, every time and pulls strongly across the full rev range. The four-speed gearbox is quiet and changes gear as slickly as any of them ever have. It also steers and stops very well too, and feels as taut to drive as a showroom-fresh example, all of which is further proof that the car’s 25,500 miles are utterly genuine.

The car is MOT’d until August 2018.

The Mini comes with a good history file and a number of old MOTs, tax discs and miscellaneous paperwork.

Please visit the ‘Records’ section of this listing where you will find a lot of this paperwork for you to peruse.

If it were ours – and oh, how we’re tempted to bid! – we’d paint the wheels, refit them with fresh rubber, give the bodywork a good T-Cut and polish, and leave everything else exactly as it is. A patina like this is hard won over decades of careful use and we’d be loath to destroy it in the name of improvement.

However, given the quality of the interior and the soundness of the body itself, a high-quality respray could turn this lovely old thing into a guaranteed show winner; after all, bits like the interior trim are the hardest items to source and everything here is present and correct and as good as you’ll ever find, even when you’re paying big money.

Which brings us neatly to the guide price. We’ve struggled with this, as we acknowledge that the condition of the bodywork will put a few off. However, we’re going to stick our necks out and suggest that while this example should reach five figures, even with its flaws, we’ll settle for a conservative £7500 in the current market. It’s original, honest, completely solid and would form the perfect base vehicle no matter which direction the new owner wants to take it. And remember the reserve is lower. Provenance and a rot-free shell are the two most critical areas to consider when buying any classic car, and this Mini Clubman has them both.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in south Manchester; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.